Published: Monday, September 9, 2013 at 9:23 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, September 9, 2013 at 9:23 p.m.

As football season kicks into high gear, local groups are doing their part to keep young players safe from head injuries on the field.

The Terrebonne Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is offering a free concussion safety awareness meeting Thursday to teach parents about the risks of contact sports.

The meeting is 6:30-8 p.m. at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, 346 Civic Center Blvd., and is free to attend.

Representatives from the office met with Terrebonne Parish Recreation Department football coaches earlier this month to help them deal with issues when they arise.

Recreation Director Sterling Washington said coaches and staff went through training to learn how to avoid injury and what to do if one occurs. Coaches were encouraged to pass information along to parents.

“We have literature for the coaches to give to the parents,” he said. “So everyone knows what’s going on.”

Washington said the recreation department works to prevent injury on a regular basis by replacing outdated or broken equipment, but workshops like concussion awareness training give the organization an extra tool.

“The coaches welcome a professional coming in and getting into detail about this issue,” he said. “It’s always a blessing to get additional information about something like this.”

Washington said the department has a strict policy when it comes to head injuries: If a player receives a concussion during practice or a game, he is not allowed back on the field until a doctor has cleared him to return.

The program’s Risk Management Department even reviews each doctor’s note to be sure it’s legitimate, he said.

“It’s about getting the kid back onto the field in a timely fashion but in a safe, healthy fashion,” Washington said.

Washington said education about head injuries gives coaches and parents the knowledge “to prevent, to treat and to recover.”

“We want to create a safe environment for these kids,” he said. “The safety of the kids comes first.”

In addition to making parents aware of the risks, Washington said coaches have also discussed the issue with their players.

“We want to let the kids know it’s OK to say their head is hurting or they don’t feel well,” he said. “We’re not going to ask them to injure themselves any further.”

Dustin Naquin, head coach for the East Houma Steelers, said his players take the program’s policies seriously.

“They totally understand,” he said. “Some don’t like it, but they know we’re there for them, and it’s for their health.”

Naquin said if players experience any helmet-to-helmet or helmet-to-ground contact, a doctor must clear them before they’re allowed to play again.

“They’re not going to play until they’re OK,” he said.

If a child is hurt on the field, Naquin said coaches follow specific guidelines to ensure his safety.

“We first have to make sure they’re OK on the ground, then take them to the sidelines,” he said. “We immediately get them medical help or release them to the parents.”

Naquin said it’s important to act fast. He doesn’t want any injuries on the field to affect a child’s future health.

“When you’re fooling with kids’ heads at this age, you’re not playing around,” he said. “It’s very serious.”

Michelle Cunningham, whose son plays for the Bayou Hurricanes, is a registered nurse, so she knows to look for the warning signs of a serious head injury.

“He’d be unresponsive and confused,” she said. “Changes in vision, headache, nausea — all of those are signs of a concussion.”

Though she can use her professional training, Cunningham said she’s glad the program is working to give all parents the information they need to keep their children safe.

“Yeah, it’s fun,” she said. “But if you get hurt, then you can’t play anymore. It’s about being safe.”

Jerald Verdin, 10, another player for the Hurricanes, said he understands why coaches and parents take the issue seriously.

“You have to be careful, so you don’t die,” he said.

Jerald said his favorite part of the game is tackling but is glad he knows how to do it safely.

His father, Derrick Verdin, said he hopes Jerald continues to play football and wants him to learn proper techniques early.

“The game is unpredictable,” he said. “But they do a good job of keeping the kids safe. It’s important to educate them for later on down the road.”

<p>As football season kicks into high gear, local groups are doing their part to keep young players safe from head injuries on the field.</p><p>The Terrebonne Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is offering a free concussion safety awareness meeting Thursday to teach parents about the risks of contact sports.</p><p>The meeting is 6:30-8 p.m. at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, 346 Civic Center Blvd., and is free to attend.</p><p>Representatives from the office met with Terrebonne Parish Recreation Department football coaches earlier this month to help them deal with issues when they arise.</p><p>Recreation Director Sterling Washington said coaches and staff went through training to learn how to avoid injury and what to do if one occurs. Coaches were encouraged to pass information along to parents.</p><p>“We have literature for the coaches to give to the parents,” he said. “So everyone knows what's going on.”</p><p>Washington said the recreation department works to prevent injury on a regular basis by replacing outdated or broken equipment, but workshops like concussion awareness training give the organization an extra tool.</p><p>“The coaches welcome a professional coming in and getting into detail about this issue,” he said. “It's always a blessing to get additional information about something like this.”</p><p>Washington said the department has a strict policy when it comes to head injuries: If a player receives a concussion during practice or a game, he is not allowed back on the field until a doctor has cleared him to return.</p><p>The program's Risk Management Department even reviews each doctor's note to be sure it's legitimate, he said.</p><p>“It's about getting the kid back onto the field in a timely fashion but in a safe, healthy fashion,” Washington said.</p><p>Washington said education about head injuries gives coaches and parents the knowledge “to prevent, to treat and to recover.”</p><p>“We want to create a safe environment for these kids,” he said. “The safety of the kids comes first.”</p><p>In addition to making parents aware of the risks, Washington said coaches have also discussed the issue with their players.</p><p>“We want to let the kids know it's OK to say their head is hurting or they don't feel well,” he said. “We're not going to ask them to injure themselves any further.”</p><p>Dustin Naquin, head coach for the East Houma Steelers, said his players take the program's policies seriously.</p><p>“They totally understand,” he said. “Some don't like it, but they know we're there for them, and it's for their health.”</p><p>Naquin said if players experience any helmet-to-helmet or helmet-to-ground contact, a doctor must clear them before they're allowed to play again.</p><p>“They're not going to play until they're OK,” he said.</p><p>If a child is hurt on the field, Naquin said coaches follow specific guidelines to ensure his safety.</p><p>“We first have to make sure they're OK on the ground, then take them to the sidelines,” he said. “We immediately get them medical help or release them to the parents.”</p><p>Naquin said it's important to act fast. He doesn't want any injuries on the field to affect a child's future health.</p><p>“When you're fooling with kids' heads at this age, you're not playing around,” he said. “It's very serious.”</p><p>Michelle Cunningham, whose son plays for the Bayou Hurricanes, is a registered nurse, so she knows to look for the warning signs of a serious head injury.</p><p>“He'd be unresponsive and confused,” she said. “Changes in vision, headache, nausea — all of those are signs of a concussion.”</p><p>Though she can use her professional training, Cunningham said she's glad the program is working to give all parents the information they need to keep their children safe.</p><p>“Yeah, it's fun,” she said. “But if you get hurt, then you can't play anymore. It's about being safe.”</p><p>Jerald Verdin, 10, another player for the Hurricanes, said he understands why coaches and parents take the issue seriously.</p><p>“You have to be careful, so you don't die,” he said. </p><p>Jerald said his favorite part of the game is tackling but is glad he knows how to do it safely.</p><p>His father, Derrick Verdin, said he hopes Jerald continues to play football and wants him to learn proper techniques early.</p><p>“The game is unpredictable,” he said. “But they do a good job of keeping the kids safe. It's important to educate them for later on down the road.”</p>